Evelyn’s restaurant is now open on the ground floor of the iconic Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The eatery pays homage to classic Americana and Evelyn Sharp, a 20th-century hotelier, investor, socialite, and art collector.
Designed by AvroKO and its sister studio Brand Bureau, Evelyn’s comprises a thoughtfully curated dining room and a moody bar that exemplifies Sharp’s passion for hosting and hospitality.
“Creating a space that is comfortable at all hours of the day was a key driver in the design process, as well as designing a space that is exciting to return to multiple times during a stay,” says Penelope Fischer-White, project director at AvroKO.The restaurant is characterized by midcentury elegance, complete with a soft color palette that takes cues from sophisticated living rooms and pops of electric yellow and coral. Checker-stained wood flooring and light oak wood paneling with a geometric midcentury motif run wrap the interior, while glass walls reveal a dining terrace, reminiscent of a solarium.
Upholstered banquettes and dinettes fill the space, along with collected artifacts and artwork that the design team imagined Sharp would have. Portraits of the accomplished businesswoman were incorporated into the restaurant’s branding, including on check presenter postcards and coasters.
A unique layout allowed for the creation of a low-ceiling bar experience adjoined by an intimate dining area. The double height main dining room centers around a column graced with large-scale custom cantilever lighting.
“The building itself was formerly an office building, something strongly reflected in the architecture of the restaurant,” Fischer-White adds. “Leaning into this vernacular with its former wood detailing and linear geometries, we paired this language with the notion of the comfort of the home.”
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